My Afternoon revives lyrical K-pop from the ’90s

Composer of Girls’ Generation songs offers musical cure for broken hearts

This is part of a series featuring new hallyu stars. ― Ed.


K-pop from the ’90s is back. Songs with sentimental lyrics and melodies are enjoying a quiet revival in Korea’s music scene.

My Afternoon, a duo of star composer Hwang Hyun and singer Agnes, is one of several outfits trying to deliver a different aspect of K-pop and present an alternative to music fans tired of strong beats and flashy performances by idol groups.

“Provocative and raw songs dominate the music scene not only in Korea but also around the world. I think those so-called trendy songs may stimulate the senses, but also damage the soul,” Hwang told The Korea Herald in a recent interview.

“I want to heal people’s hearts through our melody-based music and sensitive but warm lyrics.”

Ironically, Hwang has written songs for idol groups, including Girls’ Generation’s “Snowy Wish” and “Vitamin” and f(x)’s “Can I Like You?” Debuting as a K-pop songwriter in 2008 with Girls’ Generation’s “Oppa, You’re Bad,” he has written more than 40 songs, not only for K-pop singers but also for J-pop artists.

The 32-year-old may have succeeded as a K-pop songwriter, but what he really wanted to do from the beginning was write songs that softly touch wounded hearts.

This month, Hwang, with musical partner Agnes, released his first full-length album “Chord.” As the name implies the album offers 11 songs with beautiful harmonies, recorded with a simple accompaniment of keyboard and strings.

The duo’s lead song ― the strange but interesting “Tonsil” ― clearly shows their unique music style and their way of telling the not-so-monumental but photographic memory of everyday lives.

“Not many know that the tonsil is an organ that brings back memories by detecting the scent of something. This may mean nothing to someone but it totally blew me away. Because we do have that kind of experience but didn’t know how it happened,” said Agnes.

Inspired by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg’s string sextet “Verklarte Nacht” or “Transfigured Night,” the duo wrote a sad, break-up song with the lyrics in the form of a male monologue.

The group also reinterpreted the sound of wind, city noise, even the clock ticking, by using analog instruments. All of these elements in the album arouse nostalgic thoughts of one’s youth, the beautiful but painful memory of first love and a sense of emptiness.

“We know our songs won’t get popular like idol groups’. If there are some people out there who regain strength with our music, that is all we want,” said Hwang.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)